My close friend was on Lithium for a very long time, and never had a problem with it. Except when he stopped taking it, because he felt he "didn't need it anymore." He knew better and usually ended up in the hospital after that, but it seems to be an awful temptation that many people succumb to.

He is now on something different, Depakote I think. The good thing is that now there are many other things available. Used to be that if the Lithium didn't work for a person, they were pretty much out of luck. Now there are many other options.

Don't worry about the "anticonvulsant" label either. It does not imply that a bipolar person is subject to convulsions. It is just that some medications that were originally developed to treat one particular ailment, over time it is discovered that they also happen to be useful in other situations as well. There are several anticonvulsant medications that were later discovered to also be effective treatments for bipolar for some people. On the same track, the Wellbutrin that I take for depression is also used and marketed as an aid for people to quit smoking under another name. Just happens that the medication works for multiple things, doesn't mean there is a connection between the two. (I don't smoke and never have!)

Most important thing is if a medicine helps. If it doesn't, or if it seems to have side effects that outweigh the benefits, talk to you doctor about options.